Mount Fox Energy Park: Hinchinbrook council delays MFEP decision

A North Queensland council has sensationally delayed a decision on the future of a major renewable power project with buoyed opponents vowing the “landmark” fight has only just begun.

Hinchinbrook Shire Council CEO Mary-Anne Uren and Mayor Ramon Jayo discuss prior to declaring the elected council does not have sufficient numbers to vote on whether or not to approved construction of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) as part of the planned Mount Fox Energy Park wind farm. Four councillors, including Deputy Mayor Mary Brown, all declared conflicts of interest ahead of an expected vote during a General Meeting on Tuesday morning. Picture: Cameron Bates

A North Queensland council has sensationally delayed a decision on the future of a major renewable power project with buoyed opponents vowing the “landmark” fight has only just begun.

Four Hinchinbrook Shire councillors declared a conflict of interest during Tuesday’s General Meeting, just before an expected vote to allow construction of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) as part of the planned Mount Fox Energy Park wind farm.

Hinchinbrook Mayor Ramon Jayo said that given the conflicts with Deputy Mayor Mary Brown and councillors Kathrine Milton, Donna Marbelli and Mark Spina, “we now no longer have a quorum to deal with this matter”.

“The issue is that we are never going to be able to determine the matter now because obviously the relationship with the councillors is not going to change so our only avenue now … is that we must delegate the decision-making function.”

Mr Jayo said that decision would now fall to new Council CEO Mary-Anne Uren.

Hinchinbrook Shire Council officers have already recommended that elected councillors approve construction of the comparatively small but vital BESS, part of the wider MFEP wind farm that will comprise 57 wind turbines.

Members of the Michael Creek Valley Action Group opposed to the Mount Fox Energy Park wind farm demonstrated outside the Hinchinbrook Shire Council building prior to an expected vote on the fate of the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) as part of the planned Mount Fox Energy Park wind farm. Picture: Cameron Bates

A neighbouring Windlab wind farm in the Charters Towers region, the approved 400 megawatt Gawara Baya Wind Farm featuring 69 wind turbines, is expected to power 240,000 Queensland homes, support 300 construction jobs and employ 20 people.

Kim Armstrong, a teacher from Townsville who owns a retirement property on Mount Fox Road, vowed to appeal any decision in favour of the development.

“As we see it is a landmark case because the public are being run roughshod over by the state government because they’ve removed all that consultation process by making these ‘code-assessed’ developments.”

New Hinchinbrook Shire Council CEO Mary-Anne Uren will now decide on the future of the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) as part of the planned Mount Fox Energy Park wind farm. Council officers have already recommended the project go ahead. Picture: Cameron Bates

Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto has previously criticised code assessments that help deliver developments without public consultation and “undue delay”.

Ms Armstrong said the BESS “is a way for us to stand up and say ‘no, you need to listen to the people of Queensland and Australia to consult with us to find a better way forward’.”

She said that clearing the land needed for both the BESS and access roads to bring in the battery infrastructure was “an environmental catastrophe for us up there”.

“The BESS is situated in a watershed, so any runoff, any vapour emissions etcetera will be a disaster that will directly affect or water supply, and … the environment.”

Kim Armstrong, a teacher from Townsville who owns a retirement property on Mount Fox Road, is chair of the Michael Creek Valley Action Group opposed to the Mount Fox Energy Park wind farm renewable-energy development. Picture: Cameron Bates

Ms Armstrong, chair of the Michael Creek Valley Action Group, said opponents were also fiercely against the wind farm.

“Again, it’s environmental destruction, they are going to blast ridge lines to put these things up, so find somewhere where the wind blows more consistently and put them there.”

She said that not only were the turbines a massive eyesore, they did not generate the energy that was claimed, as backed by scientific evidence.

Ms Armstrong denied she was opposed to the project because it was in her backyard and not because of the touted wider economic and environmental benefits.

“I mean yes, it is in our backyard but it is it a great thing for the environment?” she asked rhetorically.

“We have had no public debate on it, the Queensland government has removed all public consultation and they have based all their findings (on flawed data) and information from overseas.”

She called for a broader discussion.

“We need to look at all alternatives; you can’t ruin an environment to fix an environment and that’s what we are doing,” she said.

“We need to step back and have real public debate, informed debate, and see which way is the best way forward.”

MFEP have been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Mount Fox Energy Park: Hinchinbrook council delays MFEP decision